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Social Worker Andrew Humes Loves Homeland’s Team Approach to Care

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Andrew Humes, social workerYour choice. Our privilege. For Homeland Hospice this is a promise to deliver the most compassionate care possible to all patients and their families. In his role as a licensed social worker (LSW) with Homeland Hospice, Andrew Humes lives these words every day as he helps patients during their end-of-life journey. Homeland Hospice is a hospice program that serves communities throughout Central Pennsylvania.

Andrew has been with Homeland for nearly three years. He joined the staff after earning his undergraduate and master’s degrees in social work at West Chester University. During his academic tenure he focused on gerontology because he enjoys connecting with seniors and learning their life stories. Following his course work, Andrew interned with a hospice organization in West Chester. He loved his hands-on experience and admired the hospice philosophy of care.

“I was excited to learn about the position with Homeland,” Andrew says. “I was confident I could do the job and make a difference.”

Andrew returned home to Mechanicsburg and immediately embraced his role at Homeland Hospice. Homeland Hospice helps patients live as fully and comfortably as possible by providing symptom and pain relief; care services and therapies; spiritual support and on-call support.

As a social worker, Andrew helps families with the most emotional parts of their journey and ensures they have access to non-medical resources. Patients and families often need a friend who will not judge them as they deal with difficult and painful emotions. Listening and affirming beliefs and feelings helps patients and families find comfort and peace amidst grief. This can look differently depending on the patient.

“I fondly remember a patient whose last wish was to finish a book he was writing,” Andrew recalls. “It was an honor to help make this happen.”

Andrew and his patients often form unique levels of trust and bonds during a short period of time. Andrew knows everyone is different, and he works diligently to find a common ground for conversation and connections.

“Sometimes, patients want to talk about everyday life, like sports,” Andrew adds. “Talking about a recent game can help a patient feel like life is normal, if only for a few minutes.”

Andrew often includes his personal hobbies and passions in his work. As an avid runner, Andrew helped organize the Homeland Hospice 5K and Memory Walk in September of 2024. He shared his enthusiasm for the sport and his love of Homeland during guest appearances on Good Day PA on abc27 and WINK 104.

Two years ago, Andrew and his family were on the receiving end of hospice services when his grandmother was in her final days of life. She received hospice services from an organization close to her home. Andrew saw his mother step into the role of primary caregiver and the toll of grief and worry she carried. This experience made Andrew acutely aware of the impact one can make through extra kindness, support and attention to details.

“I have a better understanding of the needs of families,” Andrew says. “I am a better social worker because of this experience.”

As a sports fan and marching band instructor, Andrew knows it takes everyone working together to be successful. This is what he loves most about Homeland. The team approach to care sets everyone up to meet the needs of families.

“I love connecting with patients and families,” Andrew adds. “This work makes a more complete person.”

For more information about services for patients and families, call Homeland Hospice at (717) 221-7890.

Homeland Center Chief Human Resources Officer Nicol Brown Named a 2025 YWCA Woman of Excellence

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Homeland Center Chief Human Resources Officer Nicol BrownNicol Brown, NHA, chief human resources and compliance officer for Homeland Center, has been named a 2025 YWCA Greater Harrisburg Woman of Excellence. 

YWCA’s Tribute to Women of Excellence program honors women in the Capital Region who devote time and energy to making the organizations and communities with which they are affiliated better places to live and work. 

“I am incredibly honored that I have been chosen as a YWCA Greater Harrisburg Woman of Excellence,” Brown said. “This recognition reflects the amazing support and encouragement I’ve received throughout my journey, which inspires me to give back to others I meet along the way. It is truly a blessing to work with Homeland, YWCA and other local organizations with missions and core values that align with my own. Their support, along with the love and support of my family, motivate me to keep pursuing excellence and uplifting others in our community.” 

YWCA will celebrate Brown and 24 other honorees at its 36th Annual Tribute to Excellence Awards event on Wednesday, March 26 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey. 

In her role at Homeland, Brown promotes a culture of continuous learning and quality enhancement that fosters a supportive work environment and encourages personal and professional growth. 

Her community involvement includes serving as chair of the human resources committee for Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area and as an executive board member for Neighborhood Dispute Settlement, a non-profit community-based mediation center in Harrisburg that promotes and provides conflict resolution through direct services, training and education. 

The YWCA Greater Harrisburg is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. 

Occupying a full block in uptown Harrisburg, Homeland Center is a licensed not-for-profit Continuing Care Retirement Community offering personal care, skilled nursing care, memory care, and short-term rehabilitation. Homeland at Home, a community outreach program of Homeland Center, provides hospice care (compassionate end-of-life care), home health services (in-home physician-ordered medical treatment), home care services (in-home non-medical daily living assistance) and palliative care (comfort and relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness).

Homeland Nurse Batya Kassner: Helping Families Experience ‘Love in Action’

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Homeland Nurse Batya KassnerAs a nurse case manager for Homeland Hospice, Batya Kassner finds the collaborative spirit and teamwork “amazing.” 

“Everyone respects everyone else’s role that they play, and everyone is more than willing to jump in and help with whatever is needed,” Kassner said. “The communication is awesome. No team works together without good communication.” 

Kassner has been a Homeland Hospice nurse since the fall of 2023. In a career devoted to nursing, this is her first time working in a hospice setting. 

She knew she was in the right place when she experienced a particular moment with a Homeland Center resident and patient. As he took his last breath, he was surrounded by his best friend, Homeland Center staff, and the Homeland Hospice social worker. 

“I feel like everything clicked, and I thought that this is how it should be,” she said. “It must have been so good for him to know he was surrounded by all these people who loved him, cared about him, were looking out for him, and covered all the bases of his and his loved ones’ needs. It felt like such a complete moment.” 

Kassner is a native of the Harrisburg area who enjoyed volunteering at nursing homes while she attended Trinity High School. She tested her interest in long-term health care by becoming a certified nurse assistant in a small assisted-living facility in Baltimore. Her supervisor, a nurse who co-owned the facility, encouraged Kassner to pursue her nursing degree, which she completed at the University of Illinois Chicago.  

While still in nursing school, Kassner was fascinated by an internship in a behavioral health facility. When she returned to the Harrisburg area, a Homeland Hospice team member she knew from her synagogue suggested that she shadow a Homeland Hospice nurse. She loved the experience. 

She realizes now that hospice combines her love of getting to know long-term care patients with the emotional intricacies she experienced while shadowing in the behavioral health facility.  

“You’re dealing with pain,” she said. “You’re dealing with grief. You’re dealing with loss. You’re helping people through a really difficult time in their life and through a transition.” 

The nurses at Homeland Hospice, a service of Homeland at Home, fulfill a wide range of duties. While monitoring patients and managing symptoms, they also ensure that families have all the necessary equipment and supplies. They are liaisons to the range of complementary services available for patients, including podiatry, massage, music therapy, and in-home support for family caregivers.  

Listening is the key to success, Kassner said. 

“Sometimes, people just have to vent,” she said. “They’ve had a rough year or multiple years going through chronic disease. A lot of it is being able to sit, listen, and understand and not try to fix everything immediately. You can’t assess needs until you really sit and listen to someone.” 

Her patients might be in their homes, hospitals, or care facilities. She especially appreciates Homeland Center staff for their close relationships with all the residents. 

“When I go to Homeland Center, the nurses and staff know who my patients are and immediately tell me what’s been going on with them,” she said. “There’s no having to hunt people down to have to figure out how the patient is doing or how things have changed. They know, and they tell me. It’s really good teamwork.” 

Outside of work, Kassner spends time with her five-year-old daughter, who started kindergarten this year and is an avid collector of bugs. Kassner enjoys reading – a recent stretch of “gloomy Russian-prison weather” inspired her to read Dostoevsky – and languages, with Spanish being her best. She is a self-proclaimed “gym rat” and a hiker whose favorite spot is King’s Gap Environmental Education Center, with its breathtaking views and choice of trails. 

“It’s beautiful and peaceful,” she said. “I’ve never had a bad hike out there.” 

As a Homeland Hospice nurse, Kassner believes she enables families to “live out their love in action” to continue nurturing their time and special relationships with their loved ones. 

“To get to be a part of that is a privilege,” she said. “You’ll hear families reminiscing and laughing even after I pronounce that their loved one has passed. The families are gathered in the house, and they’re all remembering the nice times. I love those moments because I know it was peaceful and that the person is still very present in the love they feel around them.” 

Homeland Center offers levels of care including personal care, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Homeland also provides hospice, home care, home health and palliative care services to serve the diverse and changing needs of families throughout central Pennsylvania. For more information or to arrange a tour, please call 717-221-7900. 

Homeland Director of Development Troy Beaver: Finding purpose in relationships

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Homeland Director of Development Troy BeaverTroy Beaver was weighing three job offers when his dad’s hospice nurse told him what keeps her going every day.

“It’s knowing that this could be this person’s last day on earth, and maybe I do something that puts a smile on their face,” she told him. “I could be the last positive thing that happens to this person in their lifetime.”

At that moment, Beaver decided to reject those offers – all in corporations like the one he had just left – and heed the voice urging him to find work that made a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Today, Beaver is Homeland’s new director of development, filling the role held by beloved Betty Hungerford after she retired. He is responsible for supporting Homeland’s fiscal health and long-term viability through philanthropic and charitable giving.

When the opportunity came along, he wasn’t sure he was right for the role. He spent months talking to people at Homeland – including Hungerford – “and prayed long and hard about it.”

“Now, since I’ve been here, I’ve been asking myself why I didn’t do this 30 years ago,” he said.

Beaver was born and raised in Chambersburg, PA. At age 19, he entered the U.S. Air Force, utilizing his fluency in Spanish to serve in military intelligence during a time of political turmoil in Central America.

Even before separating from the military after four years, he started working at Citibank in Hagerstown, MD, filling a need for someone to work with Spanish-speaking customers.

That job blossomed into a director in Citibank operations, taking him all over the world including Europe, South America, Central America and India.

After about 30 years, he started wondering if he wanted to continue.

“I had a feeling that there was something different,” he said. “There’s got to be something more.”

Around that time Citibank downsized and eliminated his job, and after meeting with Barry Ramper II, Homeland President and CEO, it was suggested he could be right for Homeland’s development director.

Beaver’s wife reminded him that he had been praying for “something different,” and the answer was right in front of him.

At Homeland, Beaver has discovered people impassioned about their work in ways that are different than the corporate settings in which he previously worked.

“The staff here embraces the fact that this is a person’s home,” he said. “It’s not a care home. It is their home. That’s the big difference.”

Amid the financial pressures facing today’s nonprofits, Beaver is striving to build on Homeland’s base of donors for decades to come.

“Homeland is 158-years strong,” Beaver said. “But we recognize that we need to always be thinking about how we can ensure we are here to care for our community for generations to come.”

While Beaver brings experience using technology to streamline the search for potential donors, he knows that software isn’t what obtains grants and donations. His solemn task is to build relationships. Hungerford, who was Homeland’s development director for 20 years, reminded him that building relationships takes time.

“Building trust is the most important thing,” he said. “And that takes really getting to know people.”

Beaver and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 36 years and have two sons and a granddaughter. In his leisure time, he plays one of his 12 guitars, including a custom-made Jennings that “is the most incredible guitar, with incredible detail.”

With his former Christian rock band, Prodigal, he has recorded two CDs and jokes that he is an “international recording star” because three of those CDs sold outside the U.S.

Beaver looks forward to continuing to get to know Homeland residents and building relationships with donors.

“I’m getting a really big friend base here,” he said. “All I can hope for is that in the time I’ve gotten to know Homeland’s residents and its family of supporters, I’ve been a bright spot for them and made them happy.”

Homeland’s Bereavement Team Offers Comprehensive and Compassionate Support

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Noelle Valentine, MSW, LSW

Noelle Valentine, MSW, LSW

Learning how to navigate the unchartered waters of grief after the death of a loved one requires a strong support system and the development of coping mechanisms to find hope for the future. Homeland Hospice provides a holistic approach to grief support using a team of compassionate counselors. Homeland Hospice is a nonprofit hospice program that serves communities throughout Central Pennsylvania.

Homeland’s Noelle Valentine, MSW, LSW, Lead Bereavement Counselor, and Alexis Conkle, MSW, Bereavement Counselor, walk with families during their grief journey.

“Bereavement support is rewarding work,” Noelle says. “I’m humbled by the strength and compassion I learn from every family.”

While the steps of grief may form a pattern to healing, everyone’s process and timing is tied to their personal story. Through the shared understanding of loss, many people find comfort in Homeland’s bereavement support groups, which include a Men’s Breakfast and Ladies Lunch Series. The individual process of handling heartache can often best be addressed through individual counseling. The duality of support needed on a pathway through grief is why Homeland offers one-on-one consultations and support groups.

Alexis Conkle, MSW

Alexis Conkle, MSW

“I enjoy working directly with families and helping them through the challenges of grief,” Alexis says. “I admire the strong bonds the Homeland team forms with families, as it makes this work a calling and not a job.”

In addition, Homeland offers hands-on activities including making memory pillows from a loved one’s clothing and grief art classes to serve as an avenue for expression. These opportunities along with events like Homeland’s 5K and Memory Walk provide a sense of community and an opportunity to form friendships with others who understand the journey. It is common for strangers to become close friends as they work through their grief together.

“We understand healing takes time,” Noelle and Alexis remark. “We will walk with you through your bereavement journey.”

Homeland Hospice’s bereavement support program is available to the bereaved of Homeland’s patients as well as anyone in the community who is experiencing grief.

To learn more, please contact Noelle Valentine at Homeland Hospice at (717) 221-7890.

Homeland Hospice CNA Angie Bucci: Service from the Heart

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Homeland Hospice CNA Angie BucciAngie Bucci of Shippensburg has a heart for hospice work. She enjoys connecting with her patients and their families to provide the most compassionate care possible. For more than 12 years she has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for Homeland Hospice, a nonprofit hospice program that serves communities throughout central Pennsylvania. For Angie, her career is not about a job to do. It is an opportunity to connect with others to profoundly change a person’s life through kindness and support.

Angie joined the Homeland team after working and caring for patients in the hospital setting. While she appreciated the training she received, the pace of hospital work did not provide time to connect with individual patients and meet their direct needs. She has found Homeland Hospice to be the perfect match to her skills and interests.

“I love the one-on-one time I have with patients,” Angie says. “I feel I can truly provide the help and friendship they need.”

Over the years, Angie has gotten to know many patients well and form lasting bonds with them and their families. In her role, she spends about an hour with each person during each visit, during which she has conversations and learns what is on their minds and in their hearts.

“This work is very rewarding,” Angie adds. “It feels good to help people.”

Homeland Hospice CNAs are an integral part of the care team and often get to spend the most time with patients. They provide personal care with tasks like bathing and grooming, remind patients about medications and assist with light housekeeping. All services are customized to meet the individualized needs of patients and their families.

The role of CNAs and the importance of increasing the number of people in the profession has skyrocketed as the Baby Boomer generation ages. To help meet this need, Homeland has developed an accredited CNA training program to develop current talent at Homeland as well as recruit and train new employees for all of Homeland’s work, which includes Homeland Center, Homeland HomeHealth, Homeland HomeCare and Homeland Palliative Care.

Angie recommends that anyone who has a passion for serving others consider this path as a potential career.

“It is all about heart,” Angie says. “I love what I do.”

For more information about Homeland’s CNA training course, call (717) 221-7797.

Aimee Schmoltze Called to Hospice Work After Seeing Its Impact Firsthand

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Hospice Employee Aimee SchmoltzeWhen Aimee Schmoltze’s mother began receiving hospice care, she saw the impact of the program on their family. Over a 14-month period, Aimee, her mother and their family developed emotional bonds with the hospice staff who provided compassionate care during a very difficult time. This was a formative experience for Aimee. Amidst her grief, she felt called to the work of hospice. Today, Aimee is a registered nurse and case manager for Homeland Hospice, a nonprofit hospice program that serves communities throughout Central Pennsylvania.

Aimee’s career began as a medical assistant. While she loved her job, she wanted to have a greater impact on the lives of her patients and decided to become a registered nurse. As a registered nurse and case manager for Homeland, she meets patients at the beginning of their journey with Homeland. She assesses their needs, orders any needed medical supplies and creates a care plan for aid.

This initial meeting is often very overwhelming for patients and their families as they come to terms with the severity of the patient’s medical condition. During this emotional time, Aimee is there to provide a calm, comforting presence.

“I assure patients they are not alone,” Aimee says. “We will be there every step of the way.”

Caring for the broad spectrum of needs patients face including their fears, concerns and worries is what Aimee loves most about her job. This was the life-changing work she saw when her mother was in her final months of life. Aimee understands the journey also includes families and the struggles they face during this time.

“I can see the relief on their faces when I relieve the pain their loved one is experiencing,” Aimee adds. “Open communications and education can wash away the worry caregivers experience.”

In her role, Aimee finds that many people don’t understand the breadth and scope of hospice services or the philosophy behind the hospice approach. Hospice care is available to a patient when a medical cure is no longer possible or a decision to stop aggressive treatment has been made. Homeland Hospice helps patients live as fully and comfortably as possible by providing symptom and pain relief; care services and therapies; spiritual support; and on-call support.

For Aimee, the dedicated time she spends with patients and the bonds she forms with them and their families fills her heart and soul with gratitude.

“I love this work,” Aimee says. “I am doing exactly what I was put on Earth to do.”

For more information, call Homeland Hospice at (717) 221-7890.

The Unsaid Reward Speaks the Loudest for Kristine Crockett

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Kristine (Kris) Crockett, RN, CHPN, Director of Homeland Hospice and Homeland Palliative CareKristine (Kris) Crockett, RN, CHPN, Director of Homeland Hospice and Homeland Palliative Care, approaches life with an open mind, always looking for opportunities to serve others. For more than 25 years, she has provided compassionate end-of-life care as a hospice nurse and administrator. The road to her current role with Homeland has been filled with gratifying experiences beginning with her service in the Army. As a proud veteran, Kris feels a special bond with the veterans served by Homeland Hospice.

Kris entered the Army when she was 17 years old, after achieving an impressive score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which is administered in high school to identify candidates for military service. At the time, Kris was unsure what type of career she wanted to pursue and decided to serve our country while learning a vocation. As a minor, Kris needed the approval of her parents.

“My family was very supportive,” Kris says. “This was the start of a new chapter in my life.”

Kris intended to serve in the Army Reserves, but soon decided to enlist for active duty. Her original goal was to enter medic training, but there were no openings at the time. Instead, she entered military policing and eventually became a guard at a correctional facility in California. During more than nine years in the Army, Kris lived in Texas, Honduras, South Korea and California.

“My time in the service was so rewarding,” Kris adds. “I formed friendships that still exist.”

Often, it was the unsaid thank you or acknowledgement of a job well done between colleagues that spoke the loudest to Kris. Words of gratitude or praise were simply understood between her military brethren.

Following her time in the Army, Kris returned to central Pennsylvania and pursued a medical career. She became a licensed practical nurse and began working as she raised her children. Over the years, she earned her associates degree and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

In the early 1990s, Kris worked as a nurse at York House Hospice, which provided compassionate end-of-life support for people dying of AIDS. At the time, York had one of the highest populations of AIDS patients in the state. Far too many people had no place to die with dignity, medical care and unconditional support. York House Hospice was a beacon of hope for the people it served.

Kris joined Homeland Hospice in 2012 as a weekend on-call nurse. She quickly found the same connection she had with her colleagues in the Army with her patients and their families. She didn’t need to hear the words of gratitude spoken, for she could see it in the eyes of those she helped.

“I have always connected with my patients and their families,” Kris says. “It is a powerful bond.”

Since 2012, Kris has advanced in her career and also helped Homeland expand its comprehensive continuum of services to include palliative care.

Kris is particularly proud of Homeland’s We Honor Veterans program, created by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The program works to improve the quality of health care for all who served. Whenever possible, Kris strives to connect with veterans receiving care to thank them for their service. This unique connection is one of the many reasons Kris feels a call to service at Homeland.

“This is the most rewarding job I have ever had,” Kris says. “I love this work.”

Homeland Hospice is a nonprofit hospice program that serves communities throughout Central Pennsylvania. For more information, contact Homeland Hospice at (717) 221-7890.

Called to Serve Others: Meet Volunteer Coordinator Tamara Jaroszewski

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Volunteer Coordinator Tamara Jaroszewski smiling under a treeAs a young woman, Tamara Jaroszewski of Harrisburg experienced the profound impact of hospice services when her sister died of breast cancer at age 40. For Tamara, hospice work became a beacon of hope and inspiration. She felt called to help patients during their end-of-life journey. Her call was recently answered when she joined Homeland’s Hospice team as the volunteer coordinator. Homeland Hospice, a nonprofit hospice program, serves communities throughout Central Pennsylvania.

“I proudly do this work in honor of my sister,” Tamara says. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

Tamara joined Homeland after working as a volunteer coordinator for a large hospice organization that served a sizable region. Her work with Homeland gives Tamara the opportunity to build relationships with patients and their families and the dedicated cadre of hospice volunteers. Homeland’s life-changing work is made possible by volunteers who share their time and compassion with others. From working directly with patients to helping with administrative tasks, volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization.

“I am getting to know our volunteers personally,” Tamara adds. “I am overwhelmed by their kindness and dedication to our work.”

Many volunteers find personal satisfaction from the relationships formed through patient visits. Often, patients think of volunteers as an extension of their family. Tamara helps support these relationships and assists volunteers to ensure they feel supported in their roles. When a volunteer returned to her scheduled patient visits after a reprieve to grieve the death of her father, Tamara was by her side.

“I knew her first visit back could be difficult,” Tamara says. “We approached it as a team.”

While Tamara has been with Homeland for only a few months, she is impressed by the longevity of service and creativity volunteers bring to their work. Many individuals have dedicated years to the organization and continue to raise their hands to take on new and different projects to bring comfort to patients and their families.

Tamara is excited to see more people participate in My Life, My Legacy, which gives hospice patients an opportunity to tell their life story to a volunteer who records the responses and allows the family to add their thoughts and recollections, as well as photographs. The end result is a printed book for the patient to help him/her find peace, and pride in his/her life story. The book also helps families preserve memories after their loved one dies.

“The books are beautifully written,” Tamara adds. “Our volunteers put their heart and souls into these projects and it shows.”

As Tamara grows in her tenure with Homeland, she looks forward to shepherding new projects as they evolve to benefit patients. For her, each day is a new and wonderful opportunity to build on Homeland’s rich history of service.

“You know when you are in the right place,” Tamara says. “I feel I was destined to do this work.”

For more information on volunteer opportunities with Homeland Hospice, call Tamara at (717) 221-7890.

Homeland Social Workers Make the Puzzle Pieces Fit

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Amanda Williams, Daniqwa BucknerWhat do social workers do? At Homeland, they help families navigate the complexities that are often involved with caregiving.

“The hard work shouldn’t be on the family,” said Homeland social worker Amanda Williams. “They should just be coming to visit their loved ones. They shouldn’t have to worry about the other stuff. The hard work should be on us.”

March is Social Work Month, a time to recognize social workers and their dedication to serving as advocates to those in need. Homeland Center’s social work office is led by Director of Social Services Daniqwa Buckner and her assistant director Amanda. Together, they ensure residents and families feel at home.

Daniqwa joined Homeland in October 2020. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Messiah University and her master’s from Temple University.

Amanda knew from childhood when her parents struggled to find care for her ailing grandmother that she wanted a career in social work. Originally from Souderton, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Elizabethtown College and her master’s from Marywood University.

Daniqwa and Amanda describe social workers as connectors. They meet with residents when they first come to Homeland, whether for a long-term or short-term rehab stay. Navigating the system means linking residents with people and resources inside Homeland — dietitians, therapists, unit managers, and activities. The introductions provide assurance that needs are taken care of and that there’s always someone to turn to.

Amanda is often the social worker helping residents who come to Homeland for short-term rehab stays. When they are discharged, she puts together the puzzle pieces of home health care, therapy and insurance, working longstanding connections with Homeland at Home and other providers in the community to ensure a safe and productive transition.

“Whatever comes next, we want them to have the best quality of life,” said Amanda.

Strong communication skills are essential in social work. Amanda makes it clear to families that she wants to know about a resident’s needs “in the moment” when they can be addressed quickly and efficiently.

Social workers are also detail-oriented multitaskers, attuned to subtle changes and differing needs. At Homeland, they are key team members, reviewing residents’ daily well-being. They work with assistant directors of nursing, admissions, quality assurance and activities, and therapy. Constant communication with unit managers creates a “buddy system” that keeps everything focused.

“There are multiple components to every resident,” said Daniqwa. “There’s no black and white. There are gray areas, so you have to think out of the box and be flexible to make it a full picture.”

Social Work Month, sponsored by the National Association of Social Work, is a time for recognizing the hard work of social workers and their role “beside the families, fighting the battle,” in Daniqwa’s words. They are highly educated professionals who must earn 30 credit hours of continuing education every two years to maintain licensure.

Those credits keep social workers updated on the latest research in elder care. Their knowledge of dementia and behaviors equips them to educate families about changes a loved one may experience.

In one recent case, the wife of a new resident was struggling to understand her husband’s dementia diagnosis. Daniqwa helped guide her through getting to know the new person he had become.

“We helped her understand that it’s not him, it’s the disease,” said Daniqwa. “She told us that the education we provided helped create some ease in her.”

The care social workers provide for the families of Homeland residents and patients brings comfort directly to the residents and patients.

“They’re more relaxed because their family members are relaxed,” said Amanda.